parasitic [sic] Aroideew that he had met with, and it is 
truly very robust and rigid. Its very thick, hard, un- 
divided leaves contrast unfavourably, from an ornamental 
standpoint, with the divided leaves of the allied Monstera 
deliciosa and Rhaphidophora decursiva in cultivation in’ 
the same house. The Asiatic and Polynesian genera 
Tthaphidophora and Epipremnum are exactly alike in 
vegetative characters, and the structural and morpholo- 
gical differences are not evident and constant. The 
former genus is described as having a two-celled ovary 
with several ovules attached to a central placenta, and the 
ripe berries as confluent ; whereas Epipremnum bas a one- 
celled ovary with two basal ovules, and the ripe berries 
are free from each other. But the species of each genus 
present certain modifications of these characters, and Sir 
Joseph Hooker (‘ FI. Brit. Ind.,” vol. vi. p-. 548) suggests 
that it would be better to unite them. The American 
genus Monstera differs from both in having exalbuminous 
seeds and a large embryo; otherwise it is very similar. 
M. Adansonii, Schott (B. M. t. 5086) is an example ; but it 
is somewhat surprising that no figure of the better known 
M. deliciosa, Liebm. has ever appeared in the Magazine. 
This is perhaps the only member of the natural order 
bearing an edible fruit. 
Descr.—A climbing, glabrous, robust shrub, which 
attaches itself to the trunks of trees, and ascends, as 
nearly as possible, in a straight line. Stems often a 
hundred feet long, three or four inches or perhaps more in 
thickness, bearing few branches, emitting thick, rope-like 
roots from every growth, the uppermost ones descending 
to the earth, and sometimes a hundred feet long. Leaves 
large, thick, coriaceous, very hard, including the long 
petiole six to eight feet long, one and a half to two feet 
broad, closely two-rowed when attached to the trunks of 
trees, cordate-oblong, acuminate, entire ; petiole winged, 
thick, kneed at the top with the blade, stem-clasping. 
Spathes solitary, axillary, subsessile, thick, coriaceous, 
almost woody when dry, about one foot long, exceeding 
the spadix. Spadiz sessile, cylindrical, floriferous through- 
out. Flowers crowded, hermaphrodite or a few of the 
lower ones female. Perianth none. Stamens four, shorter | 
